Thursday, 30 April 2009

Wednesday, 29 April 2009

Right they are dry enough to handle so now I sand the edges down to get a flat surface that I can join two concave shapes together. I used my slip to stick the two pieces together and now gonna let them dry overnight and tomorrow I will sand them pierce a hole in one end fire them and finish them off!!! 11 Lentil beads ta dah!!!

I have reconsituted all of my dried out Art Clay today and earlier it was much to sticky to use, so I have left it wrapped in cling film for the day and just found out that it was at a useable stage.

So what to make...well I have wanted to make some lentil beads for a while so now seemed a good time. What should I rest the shapes on to give them their shape and allow them to dry.....well obviously marbles and my trusty solitaire game. I knew there was a reason not to throw that game out LOL.

More pictures to follow of the next and subsequent stages

Had a "play day" with Keiara today, she has never used Art Clay before so I bought her a mini starter set and some clay and she made some stuff with it. I have got pictures but I need to transfer them from my camera and that probably won't be today cos my kiln is on so I am making beads tonight!!!

Tuesday, 28 April 2009

...and I am so crap at making them!!! Keiara coming to visit me tomorrow and we are going to have an Art Clay day! My dilemma is what shall I make and what should Keiara make! I don't think she has used Art Clay before so a simple pendant or charm etc should be fab for her but I am wanting to try to make a ring again. I have bought Keiara a lovely little surprise can't say what cos she might read this before getting here tomorrow but she has gifted me some beautiful beads and now it is my turn to return the favour. I hope she likes what I have got her!!! I will let you know! I am so keen to pursue the Art Clay thing and I really want to work towards getting my level 1 certification but I needs to develop some more skills and I need tuition to do this that is the tricky part cos I can't find anyone who teaches close to me. That said I have made good friends with Becci of Fired Silver and she has very kindly offered to teach me the stuff I need to know. There is also the option of Leigh of Magick Minx who I spoke to at the Flame Off. I just need to save some money and get some time sorted out to do it.

Speaking of time I spent some time today planning out my teaching load for the next year in my "day job". October is looking fairly dismal from a teaching load perspective but actually considering what is happening there at the mo it is manageable which has calmed me down a bit! There is 1 week in October where I am due to teach for 5 days which is going to be challenging cos I only work for 4 days a week LOL!!!

Anyhoo time to go Rice Krispies and warm milk are calling me mmmmmm..........

Sunday, 26 April 2009

A quick picture of last nights haul from the kiln! The challenge was yellow. Not sure what the yellows were off the top of my head but some of them have gone orange!!! Theses little beads are a random set and wil be up for sale later once I have cleaned them and checked them properly. The 5 big beads below also need cleaning and checking but overall I am very pleased!!! They will also be available to buy later on today on both Etsy and my website!

Saturday, 25 April 2009

As much as I like pink the background and theme for this blog was just starting to get to much! So I thought I had better grow up and so I have gone for a much more calming blue. I do hope you like it. I have also gone for the wider screen so you don't always have to scroll down to read my musings.

News....I asked my friends on Facebook to choose a colour this evening and Sabine chose yellow so I chose blue to compliment it and have spent the evening making yellow and blue beads and actually have enjoyed myself. I have made a few big beads and a set which I will show you tomorrow once they have finished annealing in the kiln.

Anyway best be off spend a bit of time with my hubby before I crash for the night!!!

Thursday, 23 April 2009

Not the children! My beads! I made these and am really very chuffed with them! Obviously very heavily influenced by the Flame Off still and Sarah Hornik in particular. The pink one is mine and the other bead is already sold can you believe? It did not even make it to my website!!!

Wednesday, 22 April 2009

So I thought I would show you my beads inspired by the Flame Off. No laughing please. Couple of things these are the biggest beads I have ever made and I LOVED doing them so expect more (but with better designs) and I got dichro to work. Yay!!!

Monday, 20 April 2009

...first day back at work and 4 essays to mark so I thought I would get them done and out of the way tonight but can I??? Can I heck.....;-/I am procrastinating!

I had a lovely surprise this morning. Becci from Fired Silver has sent me my prize from her mailing list prize draw a little while ago and it is just beautiful. I have not had a chance to take piccy yet as it is round my neck as we speak but I absolutely love it. Thank you Becci you are a fantastic person!

I also thought I would share with you some of the jewellery I have made since getting home from the Flame Off. I love macrame (in case you had not noticed) and some years ago I bought a necklace that was adjustable and could not work out how the fastener work. Now I have!!! I bought a couple of books on knots and macrame over the weekend and made the necklaces above. The first 2 are plain wooden beads I have had knocking around for some time and the 3rd necklace is made with my own handmade glass beads and silver. I have kept the 3rd one for myself but the other 2 will be available for sale on my website and Etsy tomorrow!

Right best be off got essays to mark!!! Day off tomorrow and Savannah is at thte childminder so I get to play on my torch hopefully!!! Yay!!

Sunday, 19 April 2009

...Wow what a lot has happened over the last few days! We arrive home from the "Flame Off" last night totally exhausted but very happy and smiley. I have spent an obscene amount of money that I don't have but I have definitely become aware that life is to short. I have not been irresponsible, have to be strict for a couple of months but none of it is on credit which I am very happy at!!! and the bills are paid this month!

The top photo is one that has been made by one of my regular customers, Jean. In her recent order I popped in the glass beads above as a little thank you for her custom. I met her on Friday at the Flame Off and she showed me the bracelet she had made out of my gift! The picture is not that fab and that is my fault (sorry Jean) but it is a beautiful bracelet and fab to see something with my handmade beads in !!!

The bottom photo is a custom order that I am posting tomorrow and again I am quite chuffed with it. It is quite small as it is for an 11 year old.

So how did the Flame Off go. OMG where do I start I met so many people and have probably forgotten the names of as many again cos my memory can be quite shocking! It was so fantastic to meet everyone, some again and some for the first time! I had a truly awesome 2 days. The demos were awesome. Sarah Hornik demo'd her ribbon bead sadly I missed her demo on Saturday as I was manning the GBUK stand. I saw quite a chunk of Julie Ann Denton boro dragon demo which was some 2 hours long and completely awesome, she cut glass with scissors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Anouk demo'd 2 of her beads which were fab. I admit to thinking that Anouk's demo may be the one that I found of little use from a technique and hint perspective...boy was I wrong her beads are so cool and it is truly enlightening to watch anyone who is a bead maker do their thing!

I have posted pictures on my Facebook page please feel free to go take a look!

I am going now I am hoping to get some torch time tonight not sure I am up to it still very tired (!) but will definitely be up there during the week!

Saturday, 18 April 2009

I know I said I was not going to post things that are a bit sad etc but I just want to post a tribute to an old school friend I had just got back in touch with. Gary and I went to primary and secondary school together so I knew him from the age of 5 till leaving secondary school!

Gary Toms was fatally injured in the line of duty last week and sadly his life support was turned off yesterday. I have not seen Gary for years and had not really spoken to him directly through Facebook but he agreed to be my friend on there so we were in touch. Like most things life gets so busy that catching up with old friends can be pushed to one side and then one day they are gone.

Gary leaves behind his wife Clare and I understand his parents are still down here in Margate. My thoughts are with you all at this very sad time.

Sorry can you tell I am just a wee bit happy about this! Typically I have not got any bloody money!!! but that don't matter just to be there soaking up the atmosphere, networking, making new friends and meeting old ones, stroking glass and learning new stuff is going to be completely awesome!

I am taking my video camera and my ordinary camera so I hope to get lots of shots! I will post em when I get home!

Not that I would notcie cos I am in the middle of 2 weeks off!!! But this is the Easter long weekend. What do you all have planned?

In the good old British tradition of DIY Tony is in the garden sorting out the little patio area that is going around mine and his sheds (His and hers sheds sad I know!!!) The sun is out and it is a beautiful day. Savannah is on her 3rd Disney movie of the day. That child has square eyes and I know she should not watch that much TV but it gives me periods of peace where I can get on with stuff! Imogen is off with her dad this weekend and I have not actually see that much of her so far this hol she has been on 3 different sleepovers!!! I may try to get some beads made today but not sure I will, I have just finished tumbling some silver that I have made from art clay and I have a couple of orders that need sorting out.

Debs beads look fab from her taster session on Thursday I have just posted them but I have a photo and when she gives me the nod I will post them for all to see.

Thursday, 9 April 2009

I have had a lovely day. Today I met Debs who contacted me and wanted to learn how to make glass beads. She opted for the 3 hour session and I think (hope) she had a really good time.Her beads are in the kiln at the moment and I am going back up to my shed in a mo to do some more beads but I will see them tomorrow morning once the kiln has finished and take pictures, once I have checked with Debs I will post pictures. She made some pairs and we are hoping she will be able to make some earrings from them!

I really enjoy teaching people. I have not done that many but of the ones I have done a couple of them are making their own beads now which is fab to see.

If you are interested in learning how to make your own glass beads and fancy having a bit of a taster session then give me a shout I would love to teach you.

Wednesday, 8 April 2009

I was on a complete roll on Monday I made a ton of beads some for orders very simple spacer beads but I also got the time and mojo to play with different designs. And then me gas ran out.......Should not moan really I knew it was on its way out cos I had it for over a year. It is a 19kg cannister so quite big and I only get a max of 10 hours a week on the torch if that sometimes. I am glad it ran out monday cos I have a lesson booked for tomorrow and it would have been pretty dire to have the gas run out in the middle of teaching :-/

Anyway I am sitting here now waiting for the postman my glass order should be arriving and then I gotta go out and get new gas and post Victoria's prize from my prize draw.

I will be back up studio tonight for another session on the torch to complete an order for spacer beads and then to carry on playing with a couple of designs! I have updated my website with new beads and also my Etsy shop. Links are over on the right hand side of this page.

Saturday, 4 April 2009

Right enough of the maudlin, you are all obviously getting bored cos I am dropping down the ratings somewhat so I want to get this blog back on track. Enough whinging and moaning.Aurorabeadz celebrated it's first birthday 2 weeks ago and I did say I was going to do something to celebrate and so now I will. I am not the worlds most original person so it is a plain and simple prize draw. All you have to do is leave me a little comment at the end of this post saying me please and I will enter your names into the hat. I will pull the name of one lucky winner from the hat on Tuesday 7th April and hopefully you should get your prize in time for Easter. I am waiting for the sun to come out and I will take a picture and post it a bit later today.

Don't forget to join my mailing list as well on my website. I promise not to fill your inbox with loads of emails I send 1 or 2 a month updating you on various things!

Right be back later with promised picture - picture now added!!Have a lovely SaturdayTTFN xx

Friday, 3 April 2009

I am about to have my 4th jewellery party. I have spent the last week or so getting jewellery together and making stuff (which is why the website has been a little quiet) and at 7.30 the evening I am hoping my first guests arrive to peruse my wares and maybe even buy a few! One lives in hope anyway. I actually quite enjoy doing these and although I would not want them to become a regular 1 or 2 a week I could do one a month or so. That said it gets a bit gutty for people to keep coming along so maybe my original idea of 4 or 5 a year at strategic points such as Christmas, Spring etc is the best idea! I can also use it to promote my fingerprint jewellery and my childrens parties as well so you never know!

The not so good news is that my sudden deafness in my left ear is not apparently caused by a blockage of wax as I thought! GP had a look today and was bemused so I am now awaiting an appointment for ENT. Great!!!!! So the ole brain goes into a bit of overdrive and the machinery cranks up into high gear and suddenly I am on my way out!!! I have some perspective now, still anxious but I am pretty sure it is nothing major. I am such a drama queen it is untrue! How my friends put up with me sometimes honest......

Anyway best be off got few last minute thigns to sort out then to be the hostess with the mostess.......

About Me

My real name is Sam and I live in Kent, England. I make my own glass beads that can be used in jewellery. I have a nortel minor torch with an oxycon and propane and my own little studio (shed!!) where I work. I have my own website where my beads can be purchased!
This blog is about me and my family and glass.
My website can be found at www.aurorabeadz.co.uk I also sell beads and jewellery through Etsy www.aurorabeadz.etsy.com